The Artist Who Doesn’t Make Art

November 8, 2017

I want to be an artist.

The only problem is… I don’t make art.

Not anymore, at least. I did when I was little. Constantly and everywhere and out of anything. But that faded. I was told, quite clearly, that art was a waste of time. It was foolish and that mine wasn’t very good. That I should feel ashamed.

And I did.

I was taught to hide my art.

I got good at it. Good at hiding. Filing down my edges until I was unrecognizable even to myself.

I stopped making art.

But if that’s part of who you are and how you see the world it never really goes away, does it? Shame makes for a powerful prison but deep down you know this isn’t home.